Gators close in on lineup for opener

GAINESVILLE — With the season opener two weeks away, Gators coach Will Muschamp and his staff are running out of time to make some critical decisions.

UF's players essentially held their final auditions on Friday morning during a scrimmage in the Swamp that will go a long way toward finalizing the team's depth chart for the Aug. 30 opener at home against Idaho.

"We need to watch the film today; we'll watch it with the players tonight," Muschamp told reporters after the closed scrimmage. "I told them we'll sort through the depth chart of guys we can count on moving forward and guys that need to get more reps and guys whose reps will dwindle. I mean, that's just part of it.

"Your tape is your résumé."

The Gators are set at some spots, but many are to be determined in the near future.

No position battle is more pressing than back-up quarterback, where first-year freshmen Treon Harris and Will Grier look to be No. 2 behind starter Jeff Driskel.

Other than developing depth on the offensive line, Muschamp said finding a back-up to Driskel presently is the biggest concern. Ideally, coaches would like either Harris or Grier to redshirt this season.

"We haven't made any decisions on any of that yet," Muschamp said. "We'll see how that plays out."

Based on four practices open to the media this week, Harris has closed the gap with Grier, if not overtaken him. Harris was decisive, accurate and unflappable, while Grier was erratic.

"He's finally getting into the groove of the offense," junior receiver Latroy Pittman said of Harris. "He's starting to call out more hots, noticing blitzes and things like that, picking up the offense real well."

Plus, Harris might throw the most catchable ball of any of the Gators' quarterbacks.

But senior receiver Andre Debose said the prettiest passes at Gator practices still are thrown by his position coach, former UF quarterback Chris Leak.

"Nothing against Driskel, but Leak, there's nothing like that spiral," Debose joked.

The 29-year-old Leak has been keeping his arm in shape while working with the Gators' most promising receiving corps in some time.

UF has struggled in recent seasons to find multiple playmakers on the perimeter. But new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper said he feels he will be able to effectively rotate six receivers in the Gators' up-tempo offense.

Senior Quinton Dunbar and sophomores Ahmad Fulwood and Demarcus Robinson are sure to be targeted regularly this season. But competition is fierce among Pittman, Debose, sophomore Chris Thompson, redshirt freshman Alvin Bailey and first-freshman C.J. Worton for the other three spots.

"The competition is amazing," Debose said. "I love it. Every day, I know that I have to come and play the best of my ability and compete and make plays or I will be bypassed quick."

Competition for playing time also has been heated in the secondary, where Muschamp hopes to rotate eight players. Cornerback back Vernon Hargreaves III and safety Keanu Neal, both sophomores, are the only current starters.

Muschamp said three veterans, safety Jabari Gorman, nickel back Marcus Maye and cornerback Brian Poole, have been too inconsistent. The Gators also need some first-year cornerbacks to emerge, with Jalen Tabor, Quincy Wilson and Duke Dawson among the candidates.

"When you're dealing with guys that you feel like are good athletes and good players, we'll continue to coach those guys and we'll get the right rotation in there," Muschamp said.

The Gators also hope to add one or two offensive linemen to a mix of seven established players - center Max Garcia; tackles D.J. Humphries, Chaz Green and Rod Johnson; and guards Tyler Moore, Trip Thurman and Trenton Brown.

"We need to have eight or nine," Muschamp said. "That's a critical issue."